Beach bike suit now in judge's hands

(04/16/08) BRIDGEPORT ? A judge will now decide on a lawsuit filed by a man who sued Greenwich after getting charged to enter a beach.

The outcome is in the judge?s hands after a brief 45-minute hearing that took place Wednesday morning. The suit was brought against Greenwich by Paul Kempner in 2006 after he was charged a non-resident fee to enter the town?s beaches by bicycle. Kempner claims the fee violates his free speech rights because the beach is a public forum.

The judge questioned Kempner?s lawyer as to whether the fee is really a free speech issue. She also wanted more information as to why Greenwich charges non-residents the fee to enter the beaches.

The judge says she realizes beach season is just over the horizon and that she plans on making a fast decision.